Thailand in the World Economic & Overseas Projects News 2012 ‎

[Nathajoti]

โห ทำกิจการเยอะมาก

[ant35]

ทุนไทย ฮุบกิจการต่างประเทศมากเป็นอันดับ 3 ของโลก



เว็บไซต์บลูมเบิร์ก เผย ทุนไทยทุ่มฮุบกิจการต่างประเทศสูงสุดเป็นอันดับ 3 ของโลก เป็นรองเพียงแค่ญี่ปุ่นและจีน...

เว็บไซต์บลูมเบิร์ก เปิดเผยว่า ในปีนี้ (พ.ศ.2555) กิจการของประเทศไทย ได้ประกาศซื้อกิจการต่างชาติแล้ว สองหมื่นห้าพันล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐฯ หรือเจ็ดแสนเจ็ดหมื่นห้าพันล้านบาท มากที่สุดเป็นประวัติการณ์ และมากกว่า 12 ปีที่ผ่านมารวมกัน

ทำให้มหาเศรษฐีไทยติดอันดับนักซื้อรองจากญี่ปุ่นและจีน บลูมเบิร์ก ระบุว่า บริษัทไทยกำลังฟื้นตัวจากเหตุมหาอุทกภัยปีที่ผ่านมา และเริ่มนำเงินสดที่สะสมมาตั้งแต่เกิดวิกฤติการเงินในเอเชีย เมื่อ 15 ปีก่อน ไปกระจายการลงทุน

โดยเครือเจริญโภคภัณฑ์ (กลุ่มซีพี) จะซื้อหุ้นที่ธนาคาร HSBC ของอังกฤษ ถือครองอยู่ในผิงอันชัวรันส์ บริษัทประกันชีวิตใหญ่ อันดับสองของจีน

ขณะที่กลุ่มบริษัท ไทยเบฟเวอเรจ พยายามจะซื้อกิจการของเอฟแอนด์เอ็น ของสิงค์โปร์ ขณะที่ บริษัท ปตท.สำรวจและผลิตปิโตรเลียม จำกัด (ปตท.สผ.) เอาชนะบริษัท รอยัล ดัช เชลล์ ซื้อ โคฟ เอ็นเนอร์จี.

ไทยรัฐออนไลน์ - 6 ธันวาคม 2555

[Icover]

ข่าวซีพีซื้อหุ้น HSBC ฮือฮามากในห้องอินเตอร์ พัชช่ากะแก๊งผิน อิจชี่กันเป็นแถวๆ

[napoleon]

HSBC to Sell $9.4 Billion Ping An Stake to Thailand’s CP

By Stephanie Tong - Dec 5, 2012 3:06 PM

HSBC Holdings Plc (5) agreed to sell its stake in China’s Ping An (2318) Insurance (Group) Co. to Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont for $9.4 billion as Europe’s biggest bank by market value moves to revive profit and boost capital.

Dhanin’s Charoen Pokphand Group Co. will buy the 15.6 percent stake in China’s second-largest insurer for about HK$59 ($7.61) a share, giving the U.K. bank a $2.6 billion profit, London-based HSBC said in a statement today. Ping An shares jumped the most in almost three months in Hong Kong trading.

The sale marks the 37th divestment by HSBC Chief Executive Officer Stuart Gulliver, who said the group remained committed to China through its investment in Bank of Communications Co. Dhanin’s Charoen, which claims to have been the first major foreign investor in China after Deng Xiaoping opened the economy in 1979, is gaining access to an insurance market that has expanded an average 19 percent a year in the past decade.

“Slowly but surely, Stuart Gulliver is refocusing HSBC back to its core strength of commercial banking,” Adam Chan, a Hong Kong-based analyst at CCB International Securities Ltd., said today. The CEO is “making the tough choices necessary to execute on the strategy he laid out 18 months ago.”

The per-share price represents a 1 percent discount on Ping An’s close on Nov. 16, before news of the deal was first reported. The stock has gained 19 percent this year after rising 5.6 percent today to HK$60.90 as of 3:19 p.m. HSBC climbed 1.4 percent to HK$79.80 in Hong Kong and was up 0.6 percent at 640 pence as of 8:04 a.m. in London trading.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-1...-pokphand.html

[napoleon]

Thai Tycoons Top Dealmakers With Record Spending: Southeast Asia

By Jonathan Browning - Dec 6, 2012 9:35 AM GMT+0700 .

Charoen Pokhpand Group Co.’s $9.4 billion purchase of a stake in China’s Ping An Insurance (2318) (Group) Co. puts Thai companies and their billionaire owners among the ranks of Asia’s biggest overseas acquirers.

The record $25 billion of Thai purchases abroad announced so far in 2012 is more than in the previous 12 years combined and behind only Japan and China in the Asia-Pacific region, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Thai Tycoons Top Dealmakers With Record Spending Udo Weitz/Bloomberg News

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, chairman of Thai Beverage Pcl., right, and his son Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, executive vice-president of Thai Beverage Pcl., stand together during a function in Bangkok, Thailand.

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, chairman of Thai Beverage Pcl., right, and his son Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, executive vice-president of Thai Beverage Pcl., stand together during a function in Bangkok, Thailand. Photographer: Udo Weitz/Bloomberg News

.Thai companies, recovering from last year’s floods, are starting to deploy the cash they’ve built up since the country became a flashpoint for Asia’s financial crisis 15 years ago. With billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi attempting a $11.4 billion takeover of Singapore’s Fraser & Neave (FNH) Ltd., Thai acquirers are now involved in two of the four largest cross- border deals by Asian companies this year.

“There are companies in Thailand that have strong domestic market positions that are now at an inflexion point, where they need to decide whether to build a pan-Asian footprint or choose not to be part of the game,” said Philipp Lotter, an analyst at Moody’s Investors Service in Singapore.

Billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont has built CP Group into a global business with operations in agriculture, retailing, trading, telecommunications, property development and petrochemicals, employing more than 250,000 people. Along the way, he amassed a $6.2 billion personal fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-1...east-asia.html

[napoleon]

Traders target Myanmar

Published: 7/12/2012 at 12:00 AM Newspaper section: Business

Thailand ramped up its shipments to Myanmar to capitalise on the opening of its economy, with an aim to raise export growth with the country by 30% next year.

Somdet Susomboon, assistant director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department, said a Thai delegation of state authorities and businesses would participate in the Thailand Trade Exhibition from Dec 6-9 in Yangon and Dec 13-16 in Mandalay.

The trade show will feature 259 booths and 220 exhibitors, comprising Thai consumer products, health and beauty products, construction materials, home furnishings and furniture, electronics and electrical appliances, and apparel.

"The event will give Thai entrepreneurs an opportunity to meet potential partners in Myanmar to raise their export channels," said Mr Somdet. "It also gives Myanmar consumers a first-hand look at the quality, design and diversity of Thai products."

For the first 10 months of the year, two-way trade between Thailand and Myanmar totalled US$5.46 billion (170.34 billion baht), with exports from Thailand making up $2.54 billion, a rise of 10%.

Thai exports to Myanmar are expected to grow 12% this year to $3.19 billion.

Prajuab Supiness, director of the Thailand Trade Office in Yangon, said export promotion activities to Myanmar are even more active next year as there are over 50 trade missions planned by organisations such as the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Investment.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...target-myanmar

[napoleon]

Focus on border trade in new year

Published: 5/12/2012 at 12:00 AM Newspaper section: Business

Thai businesses have pledged to ramp up border trade in a bid to boost export growth by as much as 5% next year.

Phongsak Assakul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said his agency and the Board of Trade plan a joint push to increase border trade with neighbouring countries.

For the first 10 months of this year, border trade fetched Thailand a total of 759 billion baht, up by 1.73% year-on-year, with the full-year performance expected to come in at 900 billion.

This year's border trade was initially projected at 1 trillion baht, but weak global demand makes this figure unlikely.

However, Mr Phongsak said businesses are upbeat about achieving 1 trillion baht in border trade next year and 2 trillion annually within the next three years.

"We expect overall exports will grow within a range of only 0-5% in 2013, as the global economy next year is yet to recover fully," said Mr Phongsak.

He said overall exports are expected to end the year with growth of only 3-4%, well below the 4.5% to 5% range projected by the Commerce Ministry.

Exports seen as most promising next year are mainly in the gems and jewellery, apparel and tapioca sectors, while air cargo, frozen seafood, furniture and rubber are expected to decline due to economic problems in the main importing economies of the US, Europe and Japan.

Mr Phongsak said the hike in the daily minimum wage to 300 baht nationwide on Jan 1 will prompt several private businesses, especially in the labour-heavy textile sector, to move to Myanmar.

"Myanmar is the most attractive investment destination. It is not only rich in natural resources but pays lower wages of 75-120 baht a day," he said.

"More importantly, the starting salary there for bachelor's degree graduates is only 3,000 to 6,000 baht a month."

Thanavath Phonvichai, vice-president for research at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, said the wage hike will inject a cash flow of 150 billion baht a year, boosting economic growth by one percentage point.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...de-in-new-year

[Nathajoti]

Originally Posted by Icover

ข่าวซีพีซื้อหุ้น HSBC ฮือฮามากในห้องอินเตอร์ พัชช่ากะแก๊งผิน อิจชี่กันเป็นแถวๆ

555 แน่นอนอยู่แล้ว

[nco1236]

ตกลงซื้อมาแล้วใช่ไหมครับ พัดฉ่ากระทะร้อน ถึงได้ แสดงอาการ

[Setgabell]

Thailand a Top Hub of Business,Leisure and Medical Travel

Thailand continues to be celebrated as a world-class travel destination, whether for business, leisure or medical care. Offering excellent infrastructure, reliable full service and very affordable prices, the country is considered a prime location by travelers from Asia to the Middle East to the West.

Business travelers from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, mainland China and India have ranked Thailand among their top destinations of the first half of 2012, according to a recent survey by the France-based hotel chain Accor.

The company also found that Thai entrepreneurs themselves traveled more in the January-June period, with the upward trend expected to continue during the second half of the year. In the first half, Thai business people made nine trips (domestic or overseas) on average, up from five in 1H 2011. Entrepreneurs indicated that they are increasing travel activity because business is growing.

“We found that Thai business travelers are more confident about the economic strength this year and are seizing new business opportunities both locally and abroad,” said Evan Lewis, vice-president for communication at Accor Asia-Pacific.

New York-based Travel & Leisure, with 4.8 million readers, also views Thailand most favorably. In its 2012 poll, the magazine has once again voted Bangkok as the world’s best city for tourism. The Thai capital’s attractiveness as a tourist center outranks Florence, Istanbul, Cape Town, Sydney, Rome, New York City, Hong Kong, Kyoto and Paris.

Thailand welcomed about 19 million foreign tourists last year and the figure for 2012 is projected to shoot well past 20 million visits. According to Department of Tourism statistics, activity was vigorous in the first half of this year with 12.43 million arrivals, up 8.34% from the same period in 2011. During 1H, visitors from China led the way at 1.40 million, followed by Malaysia at 1.36 million, Japan with 730,590, Russia with 726,041 and South Korea at 640,230. Visitors from India, Laos, Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United States, and Middle Eastern countries also came in high numbers.

They flock to Thailand for the shopping, nightlife and ancient palaces of its cities, beautiful beaches, delicious Thai cuisine, and scenic mountains and valleys.

Thailand’s tourism industry is on track to reel in revenues from foreign visitors totaling 1.04 trillion baht in 2013, 1.23 trillion baht in 2014 and 1.45 trillion baht in 2015, according to estimates by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Local tourists will spend an additional 480 billion baht next year, 520 billion baht the year after and 550 billion baht in 2015. The expenditure by foreigners and locals combined elevates the country to a 2 trillion baht tourism market in three years.

Besides business and leisure, Thailand is also a hub of medical tourism. With government agencies and business associations pushing the concept of medical, health and wellness tourism, the country already welcomes 2 million foreign patients each year. Services range from heart bypass procedures to hip replacements to dental care. In a cost comparison example, a heart bypass runs about US$130,000 in the United States, US$20,000 in Singapore but only US$11,000 in Thailand.



Some 1,400 public and private hospitals are situated far and wide throughout the nation, offering state-of-the-art equipment and overseas-trained doctors who operate at international standards. Thailand’s quality care is a fraction of the cost of procedures in many other countries.

In addition to the affordable world-class medical services, Thailand has its excellent coastal, highland and cosmopolitan tourism sites as a bonus for medical tourists who want to bring their families along. The country’s medical tourism packages are all-inclusive. Besides arranging the needed medical services, they provide the foreign patients with airport-hotel transfers, accommodation and meals, and cultural activities such as visits to temples, floating markets, traditional Thai dancing shows, elephant and crocodile farms, and beautiful coral coasts.

To help make treatment more convenient, the Cabinet in August 2012 approved a Ministry of Interior measure allowing visitors from six Middle Eastern nations who seek medical services to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days without visas. This is part of the government’s work to enhance Thailand’s status as a major tourist destination. The six countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. According to the Tourism Authority, the new measure should boost Middle Eastern medical tourists substantially from the current annual number of about 527,000.

Thailand’s position as a leading global center of tourism will be further strengthened when the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) takes shape. In 2015, the 10 member countries of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) are to launch the AEC as a single market. Tariffs will be eliminated and investment sectors liberalized between Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei and the Philippines.

With this, a free flow of goods, services, capital and people will blossom across the regional bloc. Under the so-called AEC Blueprint, health care and tourism are two of the priority service sectors targeted for removal of all restrictions by 2015.

http://www.boi.go.th/tir/issue_conte...id=92;page=227

[Ten]

Originally Posted by Icover

ข่าวซีพีซื้อหุ้น HSBC ฮือฮามากในห้องอินเตอร์ พัชช่ากะแก๊งผิน อิจชี่กันเป็นแถวๆ

ต้องหาข่าวอย่างงี้ไปโพสต์บ่อยๆ ให้ปั๊ดเช่อิจฉา ตาร้อน ใจขาดตาย

[napoleon]

BoI opens overseas centre

Published: 13/12/2012 at 12:00 AM Newspaper section: Business

The Board of Investment (BoI) opened its Thailand Overseas Investment Center yesterday, aimed at strengthening the country's competitiveness by encouraging and directing business operators to invest abroad.

The centre is on the fifth floor of the BoI Building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok.

The government decided to develop the centre out of concern the country might lose its competitive advantage over the long term if it does not diversify from relying on capital inflows.

BoI secretary-general Udom Wongviwatchai said the centre will provide information and advice to Thai companies lacking international experience.

At this stage, the priority destinations are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam among other emerging markets.

Prof Aat Pisanwanich, dean of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's School of Economics, said after the Asean Economic Community kicks off in 2016, operating costs in Myanmar will increase by 60% due mostly to office leases and labour costs.

He suggested small and medium-sized enterprises sell their products in Myanmar through local distributors, department stores or business-to-business websites, keeping in mind that risks related to poor logistics, infrastructure and corruption will remain for quite some time.

Singapore is the top foreign investor among Asean countries at US$25 billion last year, followed by Malaysia. Thailand ranked third at $10 billion, twice as much as in 2010 due to the takeover by Sahaviriya of a steel plant in England.

Thailand's foreign investments have exceeded foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow since 2007.

From 2006-11, some 27% of Thailand's investments abroad went to the mining and petrochemical sectors, with 14% to banking and the rest to food and other sectors.

Mr Udom acknowledged most Thai investments end up in Singapore and Hong Kong in the form of holding companies as well as FDI in Myanmar, but the new trend leans towards India, China and the Middle East.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...verseas-centre

[napoleon]

20 Thai companies to explore Myanmar

Published: 13/12/2012 at 12:00 AM Newspaper section: Business

The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) will take 20 leading firms to Myanmar to explore trade and investment opportunities in the neighbouring country.

The three-day trip starting Sunday will be joined by executives from industries including sugar, food, banking, property, textiles, hotels and tourism.

TCC chairman Pongsak Assakul said the group will meet Tin Naing Thien, Myanmar's minister for national planning and economic development, to discuss new investment regulations and the country's economic prospects.

Myanmar has rich natural resources and will enjoy tax privileges next year from the Generalised System of Preferences granted by developed countries.

Mr Pongsak said Myanmar's low wages are attractive for investors, with a daily minimum wage of 75-120 baht and monthly salaries of 3,000 to 6,000 baht for workers with a bachelor's degree.

Mr Pongsak, who is a member of the Joint Public Private Consultative Committee, will also represent businessmen on the government's official trip led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to meet Myanmar President Thein Sein in Nay Pyi Taw next Monday.

The working group of the two countries will meet to evaluate the progress of the Dawei project in Myanmar.

"The project is one of Thailand's strategic plans to invest in logistics in the East the country," Mr Pongsak said.

However, the project will take at least five years to become operational.

The TCC chairman also admitted Thai exports will expand at a slower pace than the 15% projected by the government early this year.

Economic growth this year will likely be 5.5%, with a forecast of 4.5% next year due to negative factors in the US and Europe.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...xplore-myanmar

[ArkinMourad]

hsbc นี่ตอนนี้ทยอยปิดสาขาที่ไทยนะ คนที่ถือบัตรเครดิท hsbc ก็โอนลูกค้าไปให้กรุงศรีฯแทน

อยากรู้ว่าซีพีจะเอาอย่างไงกับเรื่องนี้??


______________

F AND N ทีแรกนึกว่าของมาเลย์เสียอีก เดี๊ยนว่าสินค้ารสชาติมันไม่ได้เรื่องซักกะอย่าง นมเอยไอติมเอย ไม่อร่อยอ่ะ

[jobecob]

เราไม่ได้ซื้อหุ้น HSBC ไม่ใช่เหรอครับ
เราซื้อ Ping An Insurance บริษัทประกันใหญ่อันดับ 2 ของจีนต่างห่าง
กำลังสร้างตึกสูง 600 เมตรอยู่เนี่ย

[Ten]

ใช่ครับ เราซื้อหุ้นปิงอัน ที่ HSBC ถืออยู่เฉยๆ ไม่ได้ซื้อหุ้นธนาคาร HSBC

[Adittha]

มันคือ หุ้นผิงอัน ที่ถือโดย HSBC ผมเข้าใจถูกใช่ไหม

[napoleon]

เอฟทีเอ"ไทย-อินเดีย"ส่อปิดดีลไม่จบปี55

เศรษฐกิจ 17 December 2555 - 00:00

เอฟทีเอไทย-อินเดีย ส่อแววปิดดีลไม่จบในปีนี้ หลังแขกยึกยักลดภาษีสินค้า เสนอไม่ครบ แถมเป็นรายการที่ไทยไม่ได้ประโยชน์ "พิรมล" ย้ำพร้อมยกเลิกถกอียู หากไทยเสียประโยชน์

นางพิรมล เจริญเผ่า อธิบดีกรมเจรจาการค้าระหว่างประเทศ เปิดเผยว่า การเจรจาจัดทำความตกลงการค้าเสรี (FTA) ไทย-อินเดีย มีแนวโน้มที่จะไม่สามารถหาข้อยุติได้ภายในเดือน ธ.ค.2555 นี้ เพราะทั้ง 2 ประเทศยังไม่สามารถตกลงกันในรายละเอียดเพิ่มเติมของการเจรจาเปิดเสรีในด้านการค้าสินค้า การค้าบริการ และการลงทุนได้ และได้รายงานข้อมูลเบื้องต้นให้ น.ส.ยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร นายกรัฐมนตรี รับทราบแล้ว ก่อนที่จะมีการเดินทางไปร่วมประชุมสุดยอดอาเซียน-อินเดีย ในวันที่ 20-22 ธ.ค.นี้ ซึ่งนายกฯ ก็เข้าใจ และได้ย้ำว่า หากการเจรจาไม่ก่อให้เกิดประโยชน์กับไทย ก็ควรจะพิจารณาด้วยความรอบคอบ

ทั้งนี้ ประเด็นที่ยังไม่สามารถตกลงกันได้ คือ การเพิ่มรายการสินค้าที่จะนำมาลดภาษีเหลือ 0% เพิ่มเติมจากที่ได้เคยนำร่องลดภาษีกันไปแล้วในกลุ่มสินค้า 82 รายการตั้งแต่ปี 2549 โดยได้ตกลงที่จะเพิ่มรายการลดภาษีฝ่ายละ 150 รายการ โดยไทยได้ยื่นรายการตามที่ระบุไว้ แต่ทางอินเดียกลับเสนอรายการสินค้าเพียง 60 รายการ และเป็นรายการที่ไทยเห็นว่าไม่ได้ประโยชน์ จึงยังไม่ยอมรับ

ส่วนการเปิดเสรีภาคบริการนั้น อินเดียได้เสนอเงื่อนไขขอให้ผู้ให้บริการวิชาชีพอิสระที่เข้ามาทำงานในไทย สามารถประกอบธุรกิจอื่นๆ ได้ หลังจากที่เข้ามาทำงานแล้ว 6 เดือน ขณะที่ภาคการลงทุนยังตกลงกันไม่ได้

สำหรับการเตรียมการเจรจา FTA ไทย-สหภาพยุโรป (อียู) ได้มีการหารือร่วมกับหน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้องแล้ว โดยหยิบยกประเด็นปัญหาต่างๆ ขึ้นมาให้หน่วยงานที่รับผิดชอบรับรู้ปัญหาร่วมกันหากมีการเจรจากับอียู แต่ในส่วนของกรมฯ หากพบว่า ไทยเสียประโยชน์มากกว่าได้ ก็พร้อมที่จะยกเลิกการเจรจา แต่ถ้าได้มากกว่าเสีย ก็พร้อมเจรจา และหาแนวทางช่วยเหลือผู้ที่ได้รับผลกระทบ.
.
http://www.thaipost.net/news/171212/66722

[napoleon]

Conclusion of Thai-India FTA postponed to 2013

THE NATION December 17, 2012 1:00 am

The conclusion of the long-awaited comprehensive free-trade agreement between Thailand and India will possibly be postponed to 2013 instead of this month because both sides have yet to agree on several issues, the Trade Negotiations Department said.

Meanwhile, the department is also giving careful consideration as to whether it should go ahead with the Thai-European Union free-trade talks after related enterprises and consumers have voiced concerns about certain issues, mainly trade in pharmaceuticals and alcohol.

Delaying the conclusion of a comprehensive Thailand-India FTA could result in bilateral trade not meeting the US$9-billion (Bt275.69 billion) projected expansion by 2014. However, it is believed the pact will be wrapped up by early 2013.

Piramol Charoenpao, director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, said that Thailand would not rush into finalising a deal with India if the benefits are not satisfactory to both sides.

"The department recently informed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about postponing a final decision on the Thailand-India agreement because the benefits are not balanced. The prime minister has acknowledged this and will not push to conclude the talks during her visit to India," Piramol said.

Yingluck is scheduled to attend the Asean-India Leaders Summit in New Delhi on Thursday to Sunday. Initially it was expected that Yingluck and her Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, would announce the completion of the pact during this summit.

Since 2004, the two countries implemented the Early Harvest Scheme, under which tariff is waived on 82 items. This scheme now covers 84 items, while the FTA pact is expected to cover more items as well as the liberalisation of service and investment. However, so far, India has only agreed to open its market for 59 items, while Thailand has decided to eliminate tariff for 150.

THAI OBJECTIONS

Hence, Thailand needs to convince India to include more items under the trade liberalisation scheme. India, however, wants Thailand to let more Indian professionals in though the Thai private sector has objected, because it would cut down on employment opportunities for Thai people.

In addition, Piramol said that the Thai government would need to carefully consider whether it should move ahead with talks about signing an FTA with the EU. The department has organised a public hearing on issues concerning pharmaceuticals, alcohol and cigarettes.

"We can relax on the Thai-EU FTA, though the department will pay careful attention to the issues and consider whether to start official negotiations," Piramol said.

However, the department and related private enterprises agree that a Thai-EU FTA is needed because Thailand is losing export privileges under the Generalised System of Preferences that the European Union has granted to other developing nations. Also, the bilateral pact should make Thailand more attractive to European investors, otherwise they might opt for Malaysia, which already has an FTA with the EU, she added.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30196218.html

[napoleon]

Portugal eyes Asia trade to revive economy

THE NATION December 17, 2012 1:00 am

Portugal hopes non-European markets, and Asia in particular, will help it out of economic crisis.

In spite of being one of the European Union countries facing serious fiscal problems, Portugal has shown good signs of recovery with a brighter outlook for higher exports and a closer trade-and-investment relationship with Thailand, the country's ambassador to Thailand told The Nation.

Jorge Torres Pereira said his country was seeing more and more evidence of good news, mainly improvements in exports.

"The trade balance has improved. Business confidence is returning. We know that the growth will be outside Europe. We are confident of being a part of it as export outside the European single market has increased to a large degree," the ambassador said.

He said his country wanted to be more active in Thailand and elsewhere in Asia as this region has become more and more important.

According to the embassy, Portuguese exports to non-traditional markets rose significantly by 23 per cent during the first 11 months this year compared with the same period last year. Shipments to non-EU markets accounted for 25 per cent of total export value. Overall exports grew by 7.7 per cent in the first 11 months, while imports diminished by 5 per cent.

Torres Pereira predicted that as exports recovered, Portugal's economy would restructure itself. More trade will grow outside the EU markets. The economy should get out of recession within the next few years.

With Portugal's strongly positive attitude towards non-European markets and its good relationship with Thailand for more than 500 years, the ambassador is confident in promoting more trade and investment between the two countries.

The Asean Economic Community will also increase the attractiveness of Thailand for investment into the country and the region.

The ambassador said Portugal could form triangular ventures with Thailand to access the Myanmar market.

The Portuguese government "wants to raise awareness on investment opportunities for Portuguese entrepreneurs in Thailand. The embassy will set up a trade mission in the first quarter of next year to promote trade, service and investment growth," Torres Pereira said.

The mission will focus on a variety of sectors in line with the move towards a free-trade agreement between the EU and Thailand. Potential sectors are tourism, green energy including solar and wind power, innovation industries, machinery production with research and development, agricultural industries, foods, paper, textiles and garments, and wine trading.

About 20 businesspeople from Portugal are expected to join the mission.

The ambassador explained that his country was currently promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) by providing many incentives. For example, a "Golden Residence Permit" will be among the special privileges granted to investors that create capital transfers equal to or above 1 million euros (Bt40 million), create at least 30 jobs, or acquire real estate with a value equal to or above 500,000 euros.

He added that Thai investors should also increase their awareness of opportunities for FDI in Portugal, as they would not only access 10 million people in Portugal itself, but also 240 million in Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil and Angola.

Portugal turned to the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund for bailouts worth 78 billion euros in 2011. It has been forced to adopt an austerity programme by cutting spending and raising taxes to get its fiscal position in better shape. So far it has received 61 billion euros.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30196216.html